"The Mentalist" Becomes the First Freshman Series to Hit #1 Since 2005

CBS Has the Top Three Programs of the Week with "NCIS" at #2 and "CSI" #3

CBS posted year-to-year gains in viewers for the fourth consecutive week leading the Network to its 10th straight win.CBS also placed first in adults 25-54 and finished second in adults 18-49, according to Nielsen live plus same day ratings for the week ending Dec. 7, week 11 of the 2008-2009 television season.

Playing an integral role in CBS's weekly win was series high ratings for THE Mentalist, which became the first freshman series to rank Number One for the week since "Desperate Housewives" in the week ending May 1, 2005.

For the week in viewers:CBS (10.90m), ABC (8.62m), FOX (7.66m) and NBC (7.52m).Season-to-date, CBS is first in viewers (11.98m), ahead of ABC (10.52m), FOX (8.07m) and NBC (7.88m).

For the week in households:CBS (6.9/11), ABC (5.4/09), NBC (4.8/08) and FOX (4.7/07).Season-to-date, CBS is first (7.5/12), ahead of ABC (6.7/11), and both NBC and FOX (4.9/08, each).

For the week in key demographics: CBS was first in adults 25-54 (3.6/09) and tied for second in adults 18-49 (2.8/08, with ABC and -0.1 behind FOX).Compared to the same week last year, CBS was up +5% in households and +4% in viewers.CBS has posted gains in viewers for the fourth consecutive week. Season-to-date, CBS is first in adults 25-54, tied with ABC for first in adults 18-49.

CBS's Weekly Highlights:

-- On a rebroadcast-laden Monday, CBS was first in households (6.5/10), viewers (9.88m), adults 25-54 (3.8/09) and adults 18-49 (2.9/07). CBS won the last four Mondays in adults 25-54 and adults 18-49.

-- On Tuesday, CBS won the night in households (10.4/16), viewers (16.53m), tied for first in adults 25-54 (4.8/11, with FOX). This was CBS's best Tuesday delivery this season in households and viewers.

? NCISwon its time slot in households (11.5/18), viewers (18.52m), was second in adults 25-54 (5.3/13) and adults 18-49 (3.7/10). Compared to last week, NCISwas up +4% in both households (from 11.1/18) and adults 25-54 (from 5.1/11), +3% in adults 18-49 (from 3.6/10) and added +400,000 viewers (from 18.12m, +2%). This was the second largest viewer delivery for NCIS(-240,000 behind 11/11/08).

? THE Mentalist won its time slot in households (11.6/18), viewers (18.74m), adults 25-54 (5.4/12) and tied for first in adults 18-49 (3.8/09, with NBC). Compared to last week, THE Mentalist was up +20% in households (from 9.7/15), +8% in adults 25-54 (from 5.0/11), +3% in adults 18-49 (from 3.7/09) and added +2.81m viewers (from 15.93m, +18%). This was THE MENTALIST's best delivery in households and viewers. This was also the first time this season THE MENTALIST outdelivered its NCISlead-in in both households and viewers. THE MENTALIST topped "Fringe" in adults 18-49 for the third time in four weeks (3.8/09 vs. 3.6/09, +6%).

? THE MENTALIST was the night's and week's #1 program in both households and viewers. THE MENTALIST becomes the first freshman series to be the week's #1 program in-season since "Desperate Housewives" in the week ending May 1, 2005.

? WITHOUT A TRACE won its time slot in households (8.0/13), viewers (12.32m), was second in adults 25-54 (3.6/09) and adults 18-49 (2.6/07). Compared to last week, WITHOUT A TRACE was up +19% in households (from 6.7/11), +13% in adults 25-54 (from 3.2/08), +4% in adults 18-49 (from 2.5/07) and added +1.90m viewers (from 10.42m, +18%).

-- Wednesday, CBS was first in adults 25-54 (3.6/09), adults 18-49 (3.4/09), adults 18-34 (3.1/09), second in both households (5.3/09) and viewers (9.18m).

? RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER(R) (S) (8:00-9:01 PM) won its time slot in viewers (11.82m), adults 25-54 (4.8/12), adults 18-49 (4.2/12), adults 18-34 (3.0/09), children 2-11 (6.4/19), children 6-11 (6.0/18) and second in households (6.2/10). RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEERwas the night's #1 program in viewers, adults 25-54, adults 18-49, children 2-11 and children 6-11.

? SURVIVOR: GABON won its time period in households (7.5/12), viewers (12.73m), adults 25-54 (5.3/14) and adults 18-49 (3.9/11). SURVIVOR: GABON has won its time period for the 10th consecutive week.

? CSI: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION won its time period in households (10.7/16), viewers (17.48m), adults 25-54 (6.2/14) and second in adults 18-49 (4.6/12). This is the 9th consecutive time period win for CSIin households, viewers and adults 25-54.

? GHOST WHISPERERwas first in households (6.2/11), viewers (9.71m), adults 25-54 (3.3/10) and adults 18-49 (2.5/08). GHOST WHISPERER was won its time period for the 9th consecutive regularly scheduled broadcast this season.

? NUMB3RS was first in households (6.3/11), viewers (9.88m), adults 25-54 (3.3/09) and adults 18-49 (2.4/07). Regularly scheduled episodes of NUMB3RS won their time slot every week this season in viewers and adults 25-54, first in adults 18-49 for the 8th time in 9 weeks.

? HALLMARK HALL OF FAME: "Front of the Class" (S) was up from year's special (HALLMARK HALL OF FAME: "Pictures of Hollis Woods" on December 2, 2007) by +3% in households (7.6/12 from 7.4/11), +16% in adults 25-54 (3.6/08 from 3.1/07), +33% in adults 18-49 (2.8/07 from 2.1/05) and added +530,000 viewers (11.88m from 11.35m, +5%).